Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (BWV 645)

[pieterm2001]

magic...

[MrPianomanVII]

Dit is een geweldige performance van Aarnoud de Groen van dit prachtige lied 'Wachet auf'.

[andrewdreiling11]

I was listening to this without watching the vid (clicked on a Bach playlist), and thought surely this had to be two or three people playing this piece...I know nothing about playing the piano or organ, but this looks mad hard...

Oh, and vonkima's comment about Christianity...You know not what you speak...It's because of God's grace and mercy that you even get to listen to music like this...and if it wasn't for Him giving you half a brain, u couldn't spell Christianity. Much love from Kansas.

[MrLobback]

Angemessen interpretiert. Danke.

[SMFortissimo]

You perform this piece magnificently

[michelbosman]

Mijn reactie, is dit al een heel oud Orgels steuk is, door duizende orgelnisten

gespeeld.Maar het blijft nieuw.Laten wij dit behouden, Ook voor ons nageslagt.

[WaltherQ68]

Sir Aarnoud de Groen, I have to thank you personally for your beautifully correct yet soulful performing of "Wachet Auf".

I must agree with sybilla07. This is the tempo that captures Bach's spirit and your performance just made my day. I've been browsing yotube for days now trying to find a worthy performance and nothing satisfied me untill I found your marvellous work.

I'll definitely check your website. I wish you all the best.

@Zeobit I doubt anyone here even imagined to compare the two.

[travis650d]

does anybody have a pen or pencil i could borrow.. i would like to gouge my ear drums out. did i end up at a funeral or a wedding? i can't tell, i'm gagging.. i have to leave here right away this music, if you could call it that sucks..lol..

[maxbigazzi]

excellent!

[Silvermine7]

I am in agreement with the vast majority of commenters, although I know little of the technicalities of organ music, this is a superior performance

[OceanderTethyseus]

from 3:10 to 3:50

[hartleymartin]

I love this rendition. Perhaps its just my cruddy computer speakers, but I think I'd have chosen a slightly different reed stop for the part he plays with the left hand, but this is the wonderful thing about organ music. Every organ is different, and the decision that the individual organist makes in the registration makes every recording a new and interesting experience.

[inosdelaquaia]

Whiter Shade of Pale ((-; LOL

[sybilla07]

Wonderful, I never tire of this, I come often to listen to it - I have to say this is my all time favorite version of this LOVELY, LOVING and deeply reverent melody. I like the pace of it and the cadence, it is just PERECT, Thanks Aarnoud, hope you get this

[MoRulez]

Heb dit al vierentachtig keer beluisterd, het blijft mooi!!!

[thewindandthekite]

Things don't get better than this.

[jpbackbay]

Very nice piece by bach!

[phil8888]

amazing how he can play such different things with both hands.

[sobelmann]

@phil8888 Phil, Don't forget he also plays with both feed!

[moreira7daniel]

Congratulations on your rendition of this masterpiece!

[pacotinho92]

Bravo

[littleasshole26]

Is this a Fugue?Coz it keeps repeating.

[yonico0059]

@littleasshole26 its not a fugue, its a choral, and a fugue does not keep repeating, the theme is only often replayed in a different way, either a different tone or speed. Fugue is accually conterpoint and starts with one voice, then is repeated usually in a different way in an other voice and then the theme is often repeated.

[am98101]

Bravo! A flawless performance... I aspire to play Bach as well as you do.

[wholeinmytree]

mr de groen, you are great.

[MyYuri100]

One of the most beautiful interpretation of the "Wachet auf..." I have ever heard!!!!! Bravo-bravissimo, Maestro! :))))))))))))))))

[sybilla07]

One of the most beautiful rendition of this piece, I come to hear it from time to time - brings tears to my eyes. Such profound faith and surrender to the Divine. Only Bach can do this. So powerful yet so humble.

herrlich in der tiefen hingebungsvollen Liebe

[sybilla07]

One of the most beautiful rendition of this piece, I come to hear it from time to time - brings tears to my eyes. Such profound faith and surrender to the Divine. Only Bach can do this. So powerful yet so humble.

[obscurior]

@DietrichBrauer1, nichts verstanden, was? Sie sind also Christ, wie? Dann gehen Sie mal und lesen Lukas 18:10-14.

[murcia1975]

This is a wonderful composition. So beautiful and well done. Its magic fills my spirit. I love it. Bach was a genius.

[zotzklof]

Oh MANN, wie SCHÖN!

[DietrichBrauer1]

Christianity needs no excuses! Bach was able to compose his brilliant music just because he was a Christian. Christianity is the only religio vera! Everything else will lead either to a dead end or a slightly longer path to truth, or at worst - straight to hell. Lord, help the poor souls in purgatory! Amen!

[MightyDragon]

@DietrichBrauer1

So kill yourself and get there faster you brainwashed fool.

[BladeKempMusic]

@DietrichBrauer1 u can write gods music just cos you suck gods dick?

[ragle7]

@BladeKempMusic Why do you write such stupid things? You must be a moron or an idiot.

[DietrichBrauer1]

Das Christentum braucht keine Entschuldigung! Bach hat seine geniale Musik komponieren können GERADE WEIL er Christ war. Das Christentum ist die einzige religio vera! Alles andere führt entweder in eine Sackgasse oder ist ein etwas längerer Weg zur Wahrheit oder aber im schlimmsten Fall - direkt in die Hölle. Herr, hilf den armen Seelen im Fegefeuer! Amen!

[EinZwergImBikini]

@DietrichBrauer1

Da kann man sich nur wünschen, dass dieser Beitrag ironisch, sarkastisch und zynisch zugleich war. Anderenfalls wär er ein Paradebeispiel für genau die Sichtweise, die man nennen kann, wie man möchte...

nur eben nicht "christlich"...

[umberto9030]

Meravigliosa.

[Classicalguy12]

Wow the reeds on this organ are beautiful, and so are the flutes and strings, my gosh what an instrument!

[vonkima]

i always think when i hear this cantate: this is punk avant la lettre. how can you mix those melodies, that persistant, so beautiful? i really really really live a better life because of this genious music.

bach is the only excuse for christianity.

[The251025]

@vonkima

"Bach es la única excusa para el cristianismo".

¡Es una frase genial!

[dolofonos]

@vonkima I do not think Bach would agree with you. Whatever it was he heard when he wrote this, you are not hearing the same thing; him the voice of God, and you I cannot say.

[katbraden59]

Guys, did you know that Bach wrote JJ at the top of every manuscript (JJ, Jesu Juva- Jesus, Help!) and SDG at the bottom (Soli Deo Gloria- Glory to God Alone.) Pretty refreshing!

[Beuterich]

Bach was a genius!!!

[RevdRichard]

Beautiful steady tempo, good voicing of manuals (although the pedal line was a tad muffled) Thank you.

[all1rog]

Having just given the first of several performances of this piece, it is interesting to listen to this assured performance, with an unusal use of echo effects. bach's total mastery never ceases to astonish!

[krd58lbrt]

simply beautiful. The elegance and warmth of Bach is so evident in your playing. Appropriate hymn text and tune for this Sunday (last Sunday in the Church Year, or Christ the King in most Lutheran parishes).

[lawoehler]

Beautiful! Nice to hear the melody so clearly.

[IIIXPCIII]

djau bi da sm u raju

(I would say I am in heaven)

[pieterm2001]

perfectionist!

[thesmileykyle]

amazing.

[thorbjornsjogren]

I downloded this version because of the nice sound, and the fact that he make some details in another way, as me. But I do agree with a critic here under, that it is better to have a another person to change stops if it disturbs your concentration on tempo. But, wonderful sound and so nice performed with feeling.

[deviance69]

Extraordinaria música, al escuchar a Bach no se puede creer que alguien pudo componer música como ésta; perfecta en contenido y forma, bravo Bach!

[personalityson]

Best interpretation of all videos Ive browsed

[12345qazx1]

who is builder of this organ, ???its very nice

[TimVr92]

@12345qazx1

Vierdag was de bouwer. 'k ben zelf ook organist van een Vierdag orgel (1 van de orgels waar ik organist ben..). en ik herken het geluid van die prestant 8 ook in deze.

[12345qazx1]

sounds very French or catholic,both? but very nice and delicate voices !!

[janrouwhorst]

I think this organ has the nice deep warm sound to play this master piece .

Is there a dvd or cd from all the pieces that is to watch on this side?

[glendempsey]

Great potential - you play with clarity, but try to maintain a consistent tempo throughout.

[Endeavour88]

Bravo! It really sounds like cantata Bwv 140! :)

[keckvan66]

fantastic!

[gibedo1]

bella interpretazione

[primeorganist88]

awesome job! is that a pipe organ

[12345qazx1]

a wake up call could be more clarity in registration,though well played, is it a c coll organ??

[robertgift]

Nice to hear the reed in the Unterwerk (Rückpositive).

Fine performance.

[KarlBerlin1]

Ein Weckruf,der das Wecken sanft gestaltet,einmalig und wunderbar

[Chesterbarnes1]

Wonderful, Superb!

[ecary9]

Crazy to think, but one day Bach may be considered as great as Kanye West!!!

[Zeobit]

@ecary9 No, one day nobody will remember Kanye West, but Bach will last forever.

[silverbud]

@Zeobit

I don't know even now who is that Mr. or Mrs. West. And I don't want to know. :-)

[NewEquinoxProduction]

@silverbud did you mean rowan west?? Did you mean the organ builder fro australien?? Its one of the best builder !! he has recunstruct the organ rom grünendeich, germany...i have played on it....sooooo goooddddd!!!!

[silverbud]

@NewEquinoxProduction

No, i didn't refer to him. But you are blessed to play the organ. I wish I could. I only play the piano, not changing registers, not food playing the beautiful bass...

[primeorganist88]

@Zeobit true that

[VlogNationXD]

@Zeobit

in a way, classical music is the most popular genre in the world because it's listened everywhere. Japan, Germany, Africa, and it has been played for a very long time and most likely be a long time before it goes out of style.

[primeorganist88]

@Zeobit Treu it

[lawoehler]

@Zeobit AMEN to that!

[AlsatianCousin]

@Zeobit - Even uttering the first mentioned name is enough to churn my stomach.

[Mrababab121212]

@Zeobit Well my dear fuer Ewigkeit? - nein Nein, No,. not at all -

sorry died already you know after that botched and costly eye operation. Hochachtungsvoll - regards JS Bach, Cantor, Leipzig

[ecary9]

counter-POINT 9mm kanye baby

[primeorganist88]

@ecary9 wat?????

[violinistx100]

@ecary9 It's just an innsult to Bach to compare him to, of all people, Kanye West. yuck....But yeah Bach is truly amazing.

[13anjowizard]

@ecary9 only kanye west would say that lol, kanye you suck lol

[Maxbay89]

@ecary9 LMAO you should do stand up

[speedstick77]

The registration is truly charming. The foundations are so sweet. Masterfully played!.

[settimadiminuita91]

wonderful!!! =)

[mrduffmanm]

EXCELLENTLY PLAYED!!!! arvydas0069 is obviously a musical dumbass. Period.

[Hillsproductions09]

Mooi Aarnoud! Ik doe het je niet na...

Schitterende registratie ook!

[ChristinaBarrett5]

This sounds just like my church

[cumesoftware]

Superb performance! Such a sweet organ!

[clcoolness79]

Most beautiful.

[wakkarat]

The tone of that left hand is just terrible. It's pure noise. This sort of racket does not put me into a repose but quite frankly a murderous state.

[arvydas0069]

you have a hideous ear for music. Period.

[hymnistic]

Very nice playing as always. Too bad the pedal is muddy and out of sync (delayed). Try moving the mike a bit closer for recordings like this next time.

Love the chorale melody on the Krumbum! Thanks for sharing!

[NathanGS78]

@hymnistic Great review - I do understand the pedal is a little out of sync (not in performance, but in mic'ing), but there is a certain magic and ambience even with the recording technique that seems to transcend recording technique. Thank you! Inspiring!

[Cuneglasus]

Absolutely perfect rendition! The accompanying pedalwork just superb! Bach is quite simply THE greatest achievement in the history of music!

[joeraybray]

Wonderful!

[bennyK95]

In my opinion the Flute or Flotte stop sounds best for this Cantata.

[MaiconOX]

Perfect!

[SordidGuy]

Beautiful - My only problem is, the releases in the main theme were too quickly executed. Otherwise, OUTSTANDING!!!!!!

[Zackiesmomma]

I agree with mysterymagoo about the tempo and voicings. It puts me into a peaceful state of mind and I can truly meditate on the meaning of the piece.

[MaiconOX]

Minäkin!

[Electoneg7]

Excellent :)

[J0ostJ]

Which (christian?) song is derived from the melody which he plays with his second hand? It sounds really familiar...

[1968mjh]

The English version (from Hymns Ancient and Modern) is:

"Sleepers, wake! the watch-cry pealeth,

While slumbers deep each eyelid sealeth:  Awake, Jerusalem, awake!"

It's an advent hymn.

[DerBettler]

"Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying" by Philipp Nicolai

[vully70]

@J0ostJ

the chorale "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme" - Bach used the same theme as base of his cantata BWV 140.

[jasomorr]

I'll never forget learning this with one of my teachers. He said lets do wack it off for Advent. LOL

And I won't comment on Schmucke Dich...

Rest in peace old friend :(

[mysterymagoo]

Really wonderful version Aarnoud - like MrSaxmax said, great voices and tempo-so many other's just don't get it - they rush through it and use harsh tones making you want to TURN IT OFF! Not this one. You nailed it.

[MrRUDOLF74]

Krásny zážitok. Ďakujem.

[MrSaxmax]

That's my favourite organ work from J. S. Bach. Really beautiful voices here and the tempo is good! ;) Wonderful!

[trmptplyr100]

Absolutely beautiful rendition. Well done!

[horrorgamer01]

The first time I heard this song was when I was playing Friday the 13th for the Commodore 64, LOL.

[Whityviech]

me 2 @ horrorgamer01 :D ...

great playing!

[bobmusick]

This is such a beautiful, soft piece, lol I almost shed a tear.

[soffiodellorgano]

Ottima performance, bellissima l'interpretazione. Bravo! :)

[faraz1729]

You first.

[CheckedAvailability]

A German composer, a Dutch performer, and you tell people to write in English? :D

These comments here are about expressing our gratitude and enthusiasm, not about showing off with our great English.

Learn some French or any language you like - will make you more tolerant.

[isomolle]

J. S. Bach on mielestäni kaikkien aikojen paras säveltäjä.

[SeattleOrganMan]

@yelsaldier Uh,..yo! This was recorded by a Dutch organist on a Dutch organ. Does it even occur to you that in that circumstance...ENGLISH is a foreign language? And for the record, dearie...you could use some help with your English. The word you wanted (above) is 'their'.. .not there. It's, "their foreign languages.' But the truth is...anyone and everyone can comment - regardless of nationality or language. So may I suggest you just get over yourself!!!

[QSPF11]

Belle version! Qui permet l'écoute de la musique et la réflexion! Merci!

[tengyang2001]

Fantastic! I don't know why, but I get really inspired from listening to Bach.

[Dutchcaniac]

Ik ben sprakeloos.... Mooi uitgevoerd, mooi geregistreerd, wat moet het een voorrecht zijn om op zo'n fantastisch orgel te mogen spelen. Vierdag heeft hier een top product afgeleverd!

[wimniewenhuijs]

Aarnoud, prachtige uitvoering van dit Bach werk!

[godsloved3]

@advisorC101

Lol assistant organist makes it sound like you'd be on the foot pedals while someone else is wailing on the upper keys haha

[advisorC101]

@godsloved3, Excellent way of wording it. XD

[Plowhandle]

Perfection.

[mortson978]

Is it safe to call this Eflat major?

[romkrasorg]

Aarnoud, phantasty!!!

[otrolog]

I've listened so many times now -- I cry every time. ;_; <3

Thank you so much!

"You have the same problem in measure35 that I do (time: 3:16)..."

*Everyone*! ^_^

[domit32]

"wachet auf,ruft uns die stimme" - great :D

[lialyss]

gaik irt ven strossel tnagursk pilk in berger putetetiki trolesky mort pijas ah re pijas ah re vergasky in putometrosky dabitas culoe

[engelbertschoormans]

Eindelijk weer eens goed!!!! Petje af!

Trouwens, een keer was in een hele volle kerk in Rome (in Piazza di Popolo) een organist die dit speelde (heel slordig: slechte registratie, manuaal langzaam, pedaal snel!). Heel slecht was dat!!!

Wat jij speelt is VEEL, VEEL, VEEL, VEEL en ook VEEL BETER!!!!!

[miabia2295674]

I love this version, very well done. Most tend to play the piece entirely too fast and it ruins it. (:

[birdrzz]

The piece is supposed to be played faster. That's the way it was played in the Baroque time.

[miabia2295674]

Well....okay. I just really think it's better as a peaceful and slow moving piece. That's how I always heard it, and it's very beautiful that way.

[brandon71085]

I have a DVD of Cantatas conducted by Ton Koopman of the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and Choir. One of the Cantatas performed is BWV 140, the forth movement of which is BWV 645. Having been ridiculed for taking the choral too fast he actually argues that Bach the choral conductor would take the piece much faster than Bach the organist, who would take the piece much slower. According to Koopman, widely respected as the leading Bach scholar, the organ work of Wachet auf... is to be played slower.

[md95065]

But, interestingly enough, when Koopman the organist plays BWV 645 he takes it at *exactly* the same (quite fast) speed that he uses when he conducts the 4th movement of BWV140 ...

[tippymugs]

You are a beautiful man and an excellent organist.

[hymnistic]

Very beautiful!

Damn! You have the same problem in measure35 that I do (time: 3:16)...playing that b natural in the left foot against the e flat in the left hand. It's e flat is way too early. LOL.

[lanicolotta]

bravo, che momenti divini! grazie da venezia

[MoRulez]

super! Mijn favoriete stukje Bach (luister ook eens naar de pianobewerking van Busoni)

[Plowhandle]

Zion hort die Wachter singen, Das Herz tut irh vor Freuden springen, Sie wachet und steht eilend auf. Ihr freund kommt vom Himmel prachtig, Von Gnaden stark, von Wahrheit machtig; Ihr licht wird Hell, ihr stern geht auf. Nun komm, du werte Kron, Herr Jesus, Gottes Sohn! Hosianna ! Wir folgen all zum Freudensaal Und halten mit das Abendmahl.

[musikalitet]

It is all your playing. No notes. ..amasing. You must have an exceptionel memory, or feeling. can it be taught?

[tjugofyra]

That's a funny one!

[musikalitet]

no notes. how is it possible... Is there a way to learn it, I wonder? a special way to think, or work or rember?

i enjoy your playing very much.

[Menrathorgan]

mechanical-memory (fingers), optical-memory (the sheet music) and acoustic-memory (ears), and your feelings ;)

[meliante2]

Fantastic, this is the first cantata I heard in my life, and it is marvelous. My favourite kind of Christian music. A tenor with a good German pronounciation would be perfect here. But I always saw this piece's bwv as 140, and not 645.

"Wir folgen all

Zum Freudensahll(...)"

[mobbischer]

Well, the cantata is bwv 140. this is the solo choral bwv 645 bach transcripted later.

[meliante2]

Ah, ok. I did not know of the transcription. By the way, I used a part of this cantata (more precisely, the duett "Mein Freund ist mein, Und ich bin dein") in one of my videos. Its tittle is "Dueto do Chaves e do Quico".

[mobbischer]

I don't get the sense of that video "dueto do chaves e do quico". "Wachet auf ruft uns die Stimme" is a very humble song about the arrival of christs birth.

[spanish111japan]

You play very well!!! i like the song!

[tapadillo415]

buena versión....cantar de los cantares...

[Guilmant512]

Bach didn't change stops during a piece, or to do the echo version changed manual!!!!

[lwnf360]

Then he was a fool not to. It is a subtle interpretative change for the better.

[lwnf360]

Further, I don't believe you. The premise of the entire piece is the ranks "speaking" back and forth.

[worldisc]

Exquisite

[klop1956]

that is strange how he does not use his thumb to play any notes - only his other fingers

[cpeb14]

Watch the very first finger he uses......

[klop1956]

now I see he does use his thumb a bit.. I can play this song (not near as well, believe me) and I use my thumb more than he does.

[Totennebel]

Baroque fingering.

[TheFroma]

The best version of BVW645 around on youtube currently I guess. The Koopman version is too fast. For those loving this try getting a copy of the Piet van Egmond version (cd). The best performance available in my opinion.

[Itsleva]

The organ version is my prefered one :)

[skryabyn]

This reminds me of a joke.

Why did bach have 20 children?

Cause his organ had no stops

[thepat29]

No, because he`s a f*ckin` genius

[quentinbwv565]

very good

[Plowhandle]

Simply the BEST and the ULTIMATE version of BWV645.

[wonderschoonutrecht]

Geen registratiewisselingen. Bach heeft duidelijk aangegeven hoe HIJ het wilde hebben. dextra, sinistra 8 voet. bach wisselde niet van registers, tenzij hij het duidelijk aangaf.